Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Madison laughed. If she’d suffered during the two years she’d been married to Todd, she couldn’t imagine enduring nearly three decades of a similar bastard. “How did Montrose take the news?”
“He was pissed, but when the feds dragged out dozens of hours of video of him defiling Todd’s ‘product’ over the past few years…” She shook her head. “I already hadn’t forgiven him for choosing his wallet and his ambition over our son, but raping girls young enough to be his granddaughter is another level of asshole I refused to deal with.”
“I don’t blame you.” Every time Madison thought about Todd’s victims, she felt absolutely terrible that she’d lived a lavish lifestyle, even unknowingly, off their backs. “So where are you going to go?”
Genie grinned. “Well, Montrose put the house in my name as some tax evasion scheme, so I kicked him out, and I’m putting it on the market. Then…I think I’ll move out west, get as far from DC as I can.”
“Good for you. You deserve it. You were so brave to go through Brent’s things, and… I know that wasn’t easy.”
“It wasn’t. And I would never have found the courage to do it if Matt hadn’t tracked me down and convinced me to. That man was willing to do whatever it took to save you. He loves you. You know that, right?”
Her assertion was a knife to the heart. She couldn’t deal with the anguish now. There would be time in the swamp to cry and grieve what might have been. “I think Matt genuinely cares about making the world a better, fairer, safer place, and I really admire him for that.”
“He’s not altruistic,” Genie promised. “He was determined to bulldoze a path to you, and that meant bringing Todd, Winston, and the whole operation down. He didn’t sleep. He didn’t eat. For days. All he cared about was unraveling the pieces of the puzzle for you.”
Madison’s heart wrenched. Was it possible Genie was telling the truth? Wanting to believe clashed with her insecurities and tore at her composure. “I don’t know. I…”
“I do.” Genie took her hands. “But I really came here to tell you a few things. My door is always open. I hope to end this chapter of my life with your friendship, so please don’t be a stranger. And if you ever need an ear or a hug, I’m here.”
Tears pricked Madison’s eyes. “My door is always open, too. You always have my friendship. And thank you for everything.”
“Good. By the way, don’t worry about your father’s medical bills. I’ve got you covered.”
She couldn’t be serious. “Oh, I couldn’t take—”
“You’re not. I’m taking some of the money Winston gave Montrose to buy off Brent’s death—cash my soon-to-be ex-douchebag put in my name—and I’m doing what I want with it. Helping you. Don’t say anything except thank you.”
Madison bit her lip. Her gesture was so generous, but she understood the woman’s need to use that blood money to prolong life. “Thank you. So, so much.”
Genie hugged her, and Madison watched the well-dressed blonde leave the room with her head held high and a swagger to her step. No one deserved happiness more.
Haisley’s return saved her from dwelling on the older woman’s assurances about Matt and his feelings. She was well-meaning, but Madison feared the man she loved wasn’t coming back. At some point, Madison would reach out and see if he was interested in visitation with his son or daughter. She hoped he didn’t reject their child simply because she was its mother.
“Everything come out okay in the bathroom?” Madison tried to joke.
Her bestie wasn’t falling for it. “Oh, honey. You look like you’re about to fall apart. What did she say?”
Sniffling, Madison shook her head. “Nothing. I’ll be fine.”
“Will some flowers cheer you up?” Ethan asked from the doorway.
She perked up. “Hey! Thanks for coming.”
“Hell, yeah. I wouldn’t have missed the chance to tell you that you kicked ass yesterday.”
Madison frowned. “Hardly. Todd almost used me as a human skewer.”
“And that was the only reason we couldn’t get to you faster. We didn’t want to make the situation any more dangerous, but you had so much fight, sweet pea. You got yourself out of that. Matt was so fucking proud of you but worried as hell when you passed out. It took a few of us to physically restrain him from leaving the feds’ interrogation. He kept pacing like a maniac and demanding updates on your condition.”
Guilt? Concern about the baby? Or…was it possible he actually still loved her? If so, where was he?
“Do you know how to shut your damn mouth?” Nash demanded as he strode into the room.
Instantly, his eyes cut to Haisley. She turned red and pretended sudden interest in her phone.
Seriously, what was up with those two?
“What? I’m not saying anything that’s not true,” Ethan insisted.